Here I am

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

HERE I AM

Gen 31:1-16

31:1 Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying, "Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father." 2 And Jacob noticed that Laban's attitude toward him was not what it had been. 3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you." 4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 5 He said to them, "I see that your father's attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I've worked for your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. 8 If he said, 'The speckled ones will be your wages,' then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, 'The streaked ones will be your wages,' then all the flocks bore streaked young. 9 So God has taken away your father's livestock and has given them to me. 10 "In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. 11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob.' I answered, 'Here I am.' 12 And he said, 'Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.'" 14 Then Rachel and Leah replied, "Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father's estate? 15 Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us. 16 Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you."

NIV

Within this long narrative of the conversation Jacob had with God as well as with his two wives, there is one major truth. When God calls, the proper response is, “Here I am Lord”. Although Jacob worked very diligently at whatever he was required to do, when God called, he answered, “I am here”. We would think that all throughout history God called men to himself to give them direction, to reveal his plan for them, and to instill his covenant with them. God reminded Jacob He was the God of Bethel where Jacob had anointed a pillar and made a vow to Him. This vow included that if God would watch over him and provide clothing and food so he could return safely to his father’s house, then the LORD would be his God and he would give the LORD a tenth of all God gives him. Now God is telling him to return home, that God has been faithful in watching over him, giving him all the speckled, streaked, and spotted flock. God's direction is clear and concise, “Leave this land at once”. When God gives us a direction, an instruction to do something or go somewhere, it is not some ten years from now or ten days, it is, at once, right now, without delay, go do this, and do it now. We did not see Jacob arguing with God, he simply started to make plans to leave, calling his wives to inform them. It is interesting there response ends up, after verbalizing their position in their father’s household, they told Jacob, “Do whatever God has told you”. Once again, we are faced with the same truth. We need to always be ready to hear the voice of God, however, He chooses to speak to us, to respond, “Here I am” and second, to do whatever He tells us. We cannot do whatever God tells us unless we are willing to respond, “Here I am”. Then to do it at once.